The Chesterfield football history resource

Energetic and reliable, Billy Kidd was
a master of positional tactics. He attracted the attention of League scouts
while playing at centre-forward for County Durham side Pegswood, but played
left-back in an emergency, and never played anywhere else again, being
Chesterfield's first-choice in that position from his debut until retirement.

He had a trial with Chesterfield in
January '32, but held out for a better offer and was only called back in March
after injury to a reserve named Joe Weily left the club under strength in the
full-back division. He guested for Bradford City, Huddersfield Town and Leeds
United during WW2.

Billy played his last Chesterfield
match on September 20th., 1947, at the age of 40 years, 232 days, holding the
record of being the club's oldest player until Lawrie Madden added to it at the
start of the `95-6 season. Good with his head and very mobile, Billy's tackles
were noted for their tenacity, rather than timing, but he wasn't a dirty
player.

A former miner, he was appointed
trainer to the 3rd XI upon retirement in 1948, but he resigned in July 1952 to
concentrate on his off-licence business on Newbold Moor. A potentially
embarrassing photo-shoot from the 1940s featured Billy and his wife practising
their favourite hobby - rug making! Can you imagine David and Victoria having a
quiet night in, twisting the Wilton? No, neither can I - how times change!